The week in pictures

Kicking off the opening of Derby Week in Kentucky, actress Jennifer Lawrence joined Woodford Reserve assistant master distiller Elizabeth McCall for a Mint Julep from the brand’s US$2,500 Julep Cups.

Lawrence, a Kentucky native, was in attendance of the event as profits raised from sales of the exclusive Julep Cups were donated to The Jennifer Lawrence Arts Fund.

On 30 April, 7,020m above sea-level, British adventurer Neil Laughton broke the world record for the highest black tie dinner party.

Laughton and a team of explorers broke the record at the North Col on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, where they set up a dining table, crockery, cutlery, a flower arrangement and cooked an exclusive high-altitude menu.

The team toasted the occasion with a bespoke cocktail created by exploration bar Mr Fogg’s, made with Metaxa 12 Stars, spiced butter tea cordial, yoghurt powder and herb bitters.

The Spirits Business headed to Boisdale Restaurant in Canary Wharf for one of the biggest Spirits Masters competitions of the year: Scotch whisky.

More than 200 whiskies were entered into the blind-tasting competition, which saw five panels of judges award Silver, Gold and Master medals to the most deserving whiskies.

Look out for all the results from the competition in the June edition of The Spirits Business.

American whiskey brand Slow & Low hosted an event at Dead Line in Seattle to celebrate the launch of the Bacon and Beer campaign.

During the event, the whiskey brand served up a number of cocktails paired with bacon dishes, while the brand’s ambassadors guided guests through Slow & Low Whiskey’s history.

Hayman’s announced it will open its door for a number of pop-up cinema screenings this week .

The gin brand, which moved into its new distillery in South London earlier this year, will screen classic films including Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Cocktail in the distillery, while serving up an array of gin-based libations for guests.

While relaxing into beanbag chairs, guests at the Ginema will be treated to G&Ts, Hayman’s cocktails and London Dry Gin popcorn.

The inaugural Cognac show took place in London at the end of last week and saw more than 800 visitors attend.

Taking over Bloomsbury House in central London, 28 exhibitors from across the Cognac industry were in attendance offering samples, with Rémy Martin hosting its VR Cognac experience at the show.

Not only that, but Tony Conigliaro and Guillaume Le Dorner brought the bar team from their acclaimed Bar Luciole in Cognac to create a pop-up cocktail bar at the event.

SB was one of the many visitors to the inaugural Cognac Show last weekend at London’s Bloomsbury House.

After paying a visit to Martell and sampling a selection of their expressions, including Cordon Bleu and the new Cognac-based spirit Blue Swift, we joined Courvoisier for a Cognac, coffee and chocolate masterclass.

The Gin Off competition returned to Graphic Bar in Soho, London, this week, which will see 16 gin brands compete in a series of cocktail making challenges to be crowned the Gin Off champion of 2018.

The competition is an opportunity for each brand to showcase the versatility of its spirit, while gin-loving guests will be able to sample new and exciting producers.

The first round took place this week and saw Thomas Dakin, Beefeater, Nicholson and Vidda gins battle it out to try and win a place in the next round.

Bacardí announced the internal winners of its fourth annual Bacardí Good Spirited awards this week, which saw employees, teams, and facilities receive recognition for their substantial environmental achievements.

Awards were handed out to vodka brand 42Below, which used up-cycled bottles to make highball glasses and eco-friendly planters, while East Region director for Angel’s Envy Scott Franklin was named Green Champion for his efforts on behalf of the Bacardi No Straws initiative.

This week, SB headed to the summer opening of London rooftop bar Skylight.

The space, taking over the top of a multi-storey car park, opened for its summer season this week and offers drinkers in the capital the chance to soak up the sun alongside croquet lawns, boules courts and street food.

Skylight at Tobacco Dock is now open from Thursday to Sunday.

Scottish distillers Arbikie have teamed up with Ask For Janice in London for a series of pop-up events throughout May.

Kicking off the pop up series, Arbikie and guest bartender Francesco Petracci from The Gibson were down at the London bar whipping up the winning ‘World’s Best Martini’, featuring Arbikie AK’s gin and Sea Herbs Vermouth.

The collaboration will also include a series of other events, such as masterclasses exploring Arbikie’s field-to-bottle process and a Supper Club on Saturday 19 May.

London venue Quaglino’s launched its Q Aperitivo Summer Edition menu this week, which includes a refreshed food and drinks list.

Quaglino’s will be serving up an authentic Italian experience with fruity aperitivo cocktails and many food options, including charcuterie platters, arancini, crab cakes and more.

At the launch night for the new menu, guests were treated to live music from the Francesco Filizzola Jazz & Italia Classics Trio.